McCarthy March – Book club and March Reading Wrap-up!

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March was the launch of the Gorilla with Glasses book club. Together we read through The Gunslinger by Stephen King. I really enjoyed the first installment of the Dark Tower series. I was quite surprised by the depth of story telling in such a short novel. By the end I was intrigued enough with the characters, world, and narrative to eagerly purchase the second in the series.

For April, the book club will be tackling DUNE by Frank Herbert. DUNE is one of my dads favorite/most recommended books so I’m super pumped to get into it.

Despite all the fun of the book clubs inaugural read, I read a ton by an entirely different author — Cormac McCarthy. I made my way through No Country for Old Men, Blood Meridian, and the first of the Border Trilogy – All the Pretty Horses.

All of these reads were phenomenal. I was most surprised by No Country for Old Men. I’m inclined to say the movie is “better” simply because the story is nearly identical and the acting is sublime. The book was originally intended as a screenplay, so the adaption being true to the story is not surprising. With that being said, the story is incredible and I highly recommend giving this a read. It’s also fairly short, so you can crush it in a weekend.

Blood Meridian is easily the most gruesome book I’ve read. The violence persists through the entire novel. Despite the gruesomeness, McCarthy has a way of holding your attention. (Which in a way, makes the violence “feel” more gruesome.). The story and characters carry the novel.

If you like these reviews, checkout last months post.

Here are some short reviews, with ratings:

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. Short review. 5 stars. An incredible western. Gripping and engaging all the way through with an undertone of changing times. I've seen the movie and it's easily the best adaptation of a book I've seen (granted this novel was originally intended as a screenplay).
Blood Meridian by Cormac Mccarthy. Short review 5 stars. The most violent and gruesome book I've read. Dark and nihilistic story line. Characters and world felt authentic. As always with a McCarthy novel, there are quotes and scenes that will sit with you for a good while.
All the pretty horses by Cormac McCarthy. Short review. 4 Stars. The first in the border trilogy. The most romantic novel from McCarthy that I've read. Some laughs, violence, and love. Beautiful prose and story telling. A great coming of age story.
The gunslinger by Stephen King. Short review. 5 stars. First installment of the Dark Tower series. Great story, characters, and impressive world building. For a 200 page book, I was stunned with the scope of the world building. Already purchased the second in the series and excited to dive in.